OPEN THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON; BOG SAGE

This superb image is by Fung Wan Kwong, from Hong Kong, who travels all over the world photographing birds. It shows a hummer feeding at bog sage, with Long Island Sound in the background. Thanks Mr Fung!

We will be open this afternoon (Monday) 3-5.30, and probably tomorrow. See lihummer.org for directions and important information.

Closed Today; Salvia greggii

We are closed today (private groups are visiting: please contact me, via lihummer.org, if you would like to reserve time for your photography/birding/plant/kid group). I hope to be open monday afternoon, and much of the rest of the week, but please check this blog for confirmation.
The photo, by Mike Chachkes, shows a hummingbird at Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) "Cherry Queen". Actually, it's probably a hybrid between "Furman's Red" S. greggii and S. blepharopylla (you can also see one of these at the sanctuary). Though not really a perennial it is often winter-hardy in a sheltered, well-drained location, and many of mine came back through the mild winter. It starts to bloom when hummers arrive in early may and keeps going till frost. However, it does tend to sprawl. And the flowers are a brilliant red.
There are many variations and cultivars of S. greggii, all excellent hummer plants. However, the brilliant red of Cherry Queen does seem to attract their attention!
Thanks to Mike and to all those who are sending me great pictures taken at the sanctuary.
I hope to post the best of them in the coming days.

Activity has picked up. Open this afternoon; Pentas

Activity yesterday was disappointing, but nevertheless we will open this (saturday) afternoon (3-5.30 only) as promised. UPDATE: activity was low this morning but has now (4 pm) picked up. We are CLOSED this morning and all sunday. Let's hope activity picks up over the weekend in which case we will open several days next week (see this blog for detail).

The recent photo, by Linda Sullivan, shows a hummer feeding at Star of Egypt (Pentas). This is not the best hummer plant but showy, easy to grow, though strictly annual.

Open This Morning (Fri) BUT NOT THIS AFTERNOON

We are open today (friday) BUT ONLY THIS MORNING (9.30-12.30). CLOSED THIS AFTERNOON - please respect.

We will be open tomorrow, saturday, afternoon, but NOT saturday am or sunday.

The recent photo is by Rick Mei, who came out from Brooklyn.

Closed this afternoon, open tomorrow am; Firespike

 We won't open this afternoon because after a good morning activity seems to have dropped.. We will open tomorrow morning and possibly saturday afternoon (closed sat morning and sunday). We will be open most of next week.
The photo, by Linda Sullivan, was taken yesterday, which was a good day. It shows Firespike, Odontonema stricta, an excellent tropical hummer plant. Mixed sun/shade. Lots of nectar in each narrow tube!

Open Today am and pm; nice adult male pic

We are open today 9.30-12.30 and 3 to 5.30. So far hummer activity is good. I will add to this post later today to report on the situation. The image, by Tom Pfeifer, shows an adult male feeding at Salvia guarantica (anise sage).
First time visitors should study the directions and instructions at lihummer.org.

UPDATE: hummer activity was good this morning. Of course this afternoon could be different. Bear in mind that activity continues, or even increases, during intermittent rain, and there is shelter on the front porch or in the front cabin.
Most likely we will also be open thur and friday.

Open this afternoon, tomorrow and wednesday. Scheduling.

We will be open today (monday) from 3 to 5.30, and tuesday and wednesday (both 9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30). We are always closed 12.30-3.

Above is another nice recent photo by Linda Sullivan, with the bird feeding at "Cherry Queen" autumn sage (a cultivar of Salvia greggii). While this is sold as an annual on Long Island, it will often survive if given excellent drainage. Indeed, I have one that is now 10 years old and a small bush! Note that while it is a vivid red, and often draws a bird's initial attention, they will always prefer the flower with more nectar, red or not. So plant a mix of red and "big guns" such as S guarantica. 


Overhead it is a war-zone - but I'm talking helicopters and seaplanes, not hummers. 

As the header of the blog states, open days are announced on a rolling  basis, for example yesterday's and today's afternoon openings were announced in yesterday's blog posting. Today's post lists further openings. As we get more into the higher activity season, open dates will be posted further in advance. Please keep an eye on the current post on the blog. 

I've learned over the years that setting a fixed calendar early on can be a mistake: hummer activity and weather vary greatly, and this is a 1-man show and emergencies crop up. Furthermore, we also host private groups at nonpublic times and this way I can schedule these quite late. Rest assured we will be open many dates/times throughout august!

Open Today (sunday) 3-5.30 Rain or Shine

Yesterday was just too wet, even though the rain didn't deter the hummingbirds. But this morning I've seen several multibird chases and we will open, rain or shine, from 3 to 5.30 this afternoon. If it rains you can take shelter under the front porch or in the front cabin. We will also open tomorrow (monday) again only from 3 to 5.30. We also plan to be open most of the remainder of the week (mornings and/or afternoons) unless birds disappear or prolonged storms arrive. Details will be posted on this blog.

The picture, by Linda Sullivan, was taken on friday. It shows a hummer (probably a juvenile, possibly an adult female - note white tip to the tail) at Salvia guaranitica (often sold as the cultivar "Black and Blue"). If you visit and take a nice picture please send it to me (file no bigger than 250K; see lihummer.org for info, directions, rules etc) and I might post it on this blog. But remember, no tripods allowed on public open days!

Maybe....

We will decide whether to open this afternoon later when the weather/hummer situation is clearer. We opened yesterday morning but it was rather disappointing. Nevertheless Linda Sullivan got some nice pictures, one of which is shown here:

It shows a hummer feeding at Rosebay Salvia (S. involucrata "Bethelli) - you can see very well the wing just before it sweeps back.
In the afternoon, when we closed, of course activity picked up quite well. Please be patient - we will be open lots of days throughout august.

We also admit private groups at previously agreed times - please contact me at padamsyouknowwhatnotesdotsunysbdotedu. During such private times (9.30 to 12.30 or 3 to 5.30) we are closed to the public. At weekends the group should be at least 15 (carpooling); during the week the group should be at least 8.

Open Today 9.30-12.30 only

The photo was taken yesterday at the sanctuary by Melissa Hahn and shows a hummer approaching flowers of yellow trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans "Flava").

Activity has decreased compared to a week ago, but everyone yesterday saw a hummingbird (a busload of kids in the morning and 4 cars of "public" visitors in the evening - despite iffy weather. We will be open today in the morning only (9.30 to 12.30). If activity does not increase we will not open at the weekend.